A greater compliment couldn’t have been given. When he too left them, they settled into their meals and laughed and talked loudly.
Tholan couldn’t believe how much his life had changed over the years. He had a wonderful family, a wife that he loved more than he could ever have thought possible, and children. And just yesterday, he and Parker had been asked to take on three more children for the holidays, and more than likely forever. It was what they did. Take them in, settle them, and if they could, move them to family. That was the hardest on Parker.
As they were leaving the restaurant, the traffic hadn’t changed at all. The snow coming down made for slick driving and walking, and he was extra careful with his wife. Parker was the love of his life, but so clumsy in the snow. As they were trying to get their footing after one little slide, Tholan looked up when he heard screams and tires squealing.
Heather was standing in front of a long limo—not theirs, but one similar. She was screaming at the driver, telling him to watch the lights and that they were walking there, when out of nowhere, a person came and bumped her in the back. With the slippery snow and ice, she went down like she’d been dropped from a mountain, hitting her head on the asphalt.
He didn’t move. His heart stopped beating for several seconds. Blood was spreading on the road beneath her. And before he could move, her protector touched her hand to her and Tholan rushed to them.
“No. Don’t touch her.” He must have looked mad; no one but his family and himself could see the woman. “Don’t take her. She’s my little girl.”
Parker felt for her pulse and screamed. She was gone? His prima donna was gone? Trying to get closer to her—the people were blocking his way—Tholan too fell to the road as he watched his little girl’s soul speak to her protector. No. No, this could not be happening. Not to his children. They were immortal. Trying again to get to her, he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and turned to look at Boss.
“Leave her be.” Tholan shook his head. “You must leave her be, Tholan. I have this under control.”
“This is my punishment. You have taken my child for what I did so long ago.” He said nothing, but Tholan wanted answers. “You can take me. I will go with you. Just leave my child here. I beg of you.”
“Tholan?” He turned to look at Parker, who was still sitting in the blood and snow. “Tholan, he’s saving her.”
There was a man standing over Heather, packing snow in her wounds, talking to her while he worked. His words were not important, but what he was doing seemed to be helping. And when she inhaled sharply, her body rising up from the concrete, Tholan dropped to his knees and cried. She was his, she was back.
“I believe that she will not be yours any longer, Tholan.” He looked at Boss, who nodded to his daughter. “This is the man that I have set to marry her. She will bring you grandchildren, and they more children. It was what I had hoped for you all along.”
“How did she...? She wasn’t breathing.” Boss winked at him. “You planned this—for me?”
“Nay, never. I would never be so cruel as that. But, as you have seen over the decades, for every mistake, there has to be something to balance it. This was the balance from so long ago. Not that it was meant for you, but for her. She will need this more than you will ever be...well, you might be able to believe it. You have your own Parker, don’t you?”
The ambulance came twenty minutes later—the traffic had slowed it. And if not for the young man with Heather, Tholan wasn’t sure what else might have befallen her. As she was loaded into the large van, Parker got in and he started to as well. But he turned to the young man—his name was David—and told him that he should go.
“No, that’s fine, I’ll follow in my car.” They both looked at the traffic, backed up more now with the accident. “Yes, well, I might be a while. She might be out of school by then.”
“She’s been out of school for some time. Heather, she’s a dancer.” David looked at Heather, then at him. “Go. You saved her for us. It’s only fitting that you go. And the hospital might have questions of you. Go. I will be there as soon as I can.”
David got into the ambulance and it roared away. Tholan’s heart felt like a little piece of it was broken away when he realized what he’d done. He’d just okayed for his baby to fall in love. Tholan let out a long breath.
Gathering the rest of his family up, they were loaded into their limo only five minutes later and on their way. A shortcut had somehow been found, and they were only thirty minutes behind the ambulance, but Heather was already in surgery by then. David Sanders, medical doctor and surgeon, was the one in there with her. Tholan sat with Parker in the waiting room as they awaited word on what was going to be happening.
“She’s his mate, isn’t she?” He nodded, his heart just not ready for this right now. “Oh, Tholan. We knew this would happen someday. I’m just sorry to see it happen so soon.”
“Yes, well, Brooks pointed out to me that she is a little long in the tooth to be not married. I think that he’s been hanging out with Valyn too much. That man must have a book of quotes that he’s picked up over the decades.” They both laughed and watched the others sit quietly. “We’ve been very lucky, I think. I’m not saying that we’ve had it on easy street, but I think we’ve done more than most have.”
“Having love in our hearts and a seemingly endless supply of money has helped too. Maggie and I figured it up the other day—we’ve had forty-seven children in our lives in the last fifteen years, and only a few of them—one or two, we think—that we couldn’t save.” Parker laid her head on his shoulder as she continued. “Tholan, what will we do without her in our home? I don’t want to have her move away.”
His heart hurt for lost children. They had been raised by terrible beings, and no amount of love or understanding had helped. One had died due to drugs; the other was in prison for bank robbery. But with their daughter, they could fix that.
“We’ll buy them a home. Close to where we live.” She looked at him and frowned. “I’ve been getting really good at being stern. Perhaps I can use a bit of it on him to make him move close to us.”
“Yes, because that has worked so well on Heather. I’m sure that compared to her, he’ll be a pushover.” They laughed again and stood up when a nurse joined them in the room. “Is she all right?”
“Yes, Dr. Sanders just wanted to make sure that there wasn’t anything inside the wound before he stitched it up. And he also wanted me to tell you that she should be in recovery in about twenty minutes. If you’d like to get some coffee or something, I can call you when she’s ready.” They said that they’d wait, they didn’t drink coffee. “He’s a good doctor. His last day was today, and him being right there where she needed him, it was a miracle. Some doctors would have just stitched.... Never mind. Anyway, we’re going to miss him. He’s moving to Ohio, soon to retire. He said that he needs a rest.”
When the nurse left, he and Parker looked at each other and burst out laughing. Of course, it was a miracle, and that he was moving to Ohio. Heather wouldn’t be moving that far away after all. Of course, he took credit for the doctor taking an early retirement.
As soon as they could, they sent the others back to the hotel. New York might be the city that never sleeps, but the children did need it. Going into Heather’s room, being led there by the nurse, Parker and Tholan walked in on Dr. Sanders sitting on the bed, talking to Heather, and they were holding hands.
“Dad, Mom, you remember David, don’t you? He was in one of my classes at college. English Lit. I had him come home with me that first Thanksgiving that his parents were away.” They shook hands, and Tholan felt the connection to him all the way to his heart. “His parents are getting a divorce, and he’s decided that he can’t take the bickering anymore. He’s sold his house and is moving to our town. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Yes, it is.”
Tholan noticed that David didn’t release Heather’s hand, and he wasn’t really sure how he felt about t
hat. Of course, they were going to be mates, but she had been theirs first. When Parker took his hand in hers, he knew she was trying to make him behave. He’d only just realized that he’d been glaring at their hands.
“Heather has a nasty bump on her head, and I’m going to keep her here for a few hours more. She should be home in time for Christmas dinner. And I hope you don’t mind, but she asked me to come along too.” Parker told him that he was more than welcome. “Thank you very much. That’s the one thing that I remember most about the two of you—you were always the politest people, and you would open your doors to anyone. Thank you for that.”
“It’s what makes us happy. To have family and friends around all the time.” Parker grinned at him. “Heather said that you were moving to Ohio? Have you a house yet? We have two near us. I’m not being pushy or anything, but they’re nice homes.”
“Really?” David looked at Heather and she nodded. “Heather and I are going to start seeing each other. I mean, seeing a bit more of each other. We did date a bit in college, but...to be honest with you, I’m already about halfway in love with her. And she just told me that she’s thought of me often too.”
“Good, then it’s settled. The houses are near us but not too close, and we’ve just had them both cleaned up and painted, trying to get them off the market. This could not be better.” Parker stood up, and Tholan did as well as she continued. “All right, love. We will come for you, unless David will be bringing you to the hotel. Good then, we’ll see you today. Your father and I, we have lots to do, and I need a nap.”
After kissing her on the cheek, they both left. Tholan looked at Parker when they were in the elevator and cocked a brow at her. They didn’t have any houses, they hadn’t had anything cleaned up, and as far as he knew, the market for such houses was very good.
“Oh, all right, I said a few fibs. But a few phone calls and it will be as right as rain.” Tholan said nothing. “Bear with me on this, Tholan, I can’t stand the thought of our daughter too far away any more than you can. So, I fibbed. I’ll make it right. You’ll see.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Parker was making calls as soon as they were in the limo again. “I love you, Parker Daniels.”
By the time they were in their rooms, not only did she have three houses that were being worked on, but one of them was next to them. The crew would start on them first thing the day after New Year’s—that was how long they were staying in New York—and it would be ready by the time they arrived. Tholan wasn’t sure who was happier, him or the kids. They loved Heather too.
~*~
Heather was in love. And as she sat as quietly as she could on the couch at the hotel, she couldn’t stop staring at the man next to her on the floor. He was everything that she could have hoped for in a man, and he’d told her on the way here that he had fallen in love with her as well.
It was fast, she would admit that. But then all the mates to the protectors had— She thought of something and sat there stunned for several seconds before she heard the laughter in her head. Boss.
Yes, I planned this. Are you well? She said that she was, and that she was happy. As it should be. David is a good man, as you know. A few things that he’s working on—his parents have never been kind. It’s difficult for him to take in in that your family is so loving.
I love him. He said that it was in her mind just how much she did. My dad told me the story once, of Elizabeth. Is this his payback for that?
No. He asked the same thing when you lay on the road. I would never do that. Never. But there has to be a balance. As you are aware. She told him that she was. You will have many children and be as happy as your parents are now. This is what I wanted for you, we all did. You are special to us, Heather, to all protectors. You brought Tholan to us all, you and Parker.
I don’t understand. He explained it to her. But I thought that would have been Brooks, their real son. I mean, I know I was the first, but that doesn’t make sense.
You are all their biological children as far as they’re concerned. None of you have ever thought of them as adoptive parents. Not one child that has come through them, even the ones that failed them, haven’t learned something from them, taken it to their hearts. She knew that as well. Yes, when you visit Billy in prison, is he not a redeemed man? Did he not tell you that he was going to come out of prison and change his life? That is because of you, through the love of your parents. Did you know that they visit him as well?
Yes, he told me. She looked around the room, at the gifts that had been opened, the paper that was stacked near the trash cans. The tree that had been put in the room by the hotel staff. Boss, will David ever die?
No, I could no more do that to you than I could have taken you from Parker and Tholan. All of you are immortals. And now that you have reached your age, neither you nor David will age. You will be together for all time. She squeezed David’s hand when he kissed the back of it. You enjoy your day with family, my child. I wish you all the luck in the world, you know that.
The day was spent with David, and when his parents called, each of them leaving him messages, he ignored them, which she was happy about. They would be a part of their lives, she knew this. But Heather, like her mom, would lay down some rules, and they’d either follow them or she’d have to show them what sort of wife she was going to be to David. And she would be his wife, just as soon as she could. Life, even for an immortal, was too short to let things get in the way.
Napping lightly in her room, she wasn’t surprised when David joined on her the bed. He held her tightly, telling her what a good time he’d had today, and she drifted off knowing that forever, this would be a favorite day.
When she woke she was alone in the big bed, but she knew that David hadn’t left. He told her that he was going to travel to Ohio with them. Getting up slowly, she made her way to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
The freckles that she’d had since childhood were still there. Her red hair, pulled back in a ponytail, was still as flaming as it had ever been. Getting into the shower, she scrubbed herself twice, careful of the stitches in her head. When she was finished, like her parents could, Heather dressed herself in comfy clothing and walked into the bedroom. David was there waiting for her. She knew that something had happened.
“Will you marry me?” Nodding at him, he smiled, but looked no less worried. “My parents are coming here today. Both of them. I had hoped that we could gently ease them into the family, but that’s not going to happen, I guess. I told them I was marrying you if you said yes, and they are coming en masse to meet you and your family. I don’t want them here, as you can well imagine, but there was no stopping them.”
“We can deal with them as a family. I don’t know if you noticed this or not, but we’re not pushovers.” He laughed. It cleared up his worry lines, and she was happy for that. “Have you told my parents and family yet? And warned them to not murder them?”
“As much as I’d like to say that I should have warned them, I didn’t. I don’t really think that your parents have a mean bone in their bodies. But they do know that my parents are coming. You know what Brooks said? He’d protect me. That kid…. I really love your family, Heather. All of them.” She said that they loved him as well. “This is so fast, don’t you think? I mean, I wouldn’t change it for the world, but this is so fast.”
“No. And before your parents get here, there are a few things that you should know.” He said that her dad had told him. “Everything? Or just the stuff he thought you could handle right now. Dad would be like that, gently letting you know.”
“Funny thing is—oh, he told me everything, I think—I knew back then that you were different than any other family. The wings, I have to admit, those sort of freaked me out a bit. But everything else, that was just like telling me that there was snow coming. I sort of had it in the back of my mind that whatever you were, I’d get that too.” She said that he had. “Good. I love you. And I have a ring for you. Your mom gave
it to me.”
She looked at the ring, so much like her parents’ that she cried. Boss had done this for them too. And when David slipped it on her finger, it fit as well as her clothing did. Her hand filled with something, and Heather opened her palm to find his ring.
“I’m not even going to ask. But I do have a feeling that we’ll not just be engaged but married too.” Heather asked David if that would bother him if it were true. “No, not the least bit. I love you, Heather Sanders. And will for the rest of our days together.”
Kissing, they held each other for a long time. Then they laid back on her bed and talked. They didn’t really make any hard decisions, but they did both want children, they wanted the house next to her parents, and they were also going to adopt. Nothing concrete, but just making a plan. Just as they needed.
At eight o’clock his parents showed up. Heather was ready for them, and so was her family. When they came in the door, bickering and telling David that he was stupid—yes, stupid—she walked right up to them and told them to shut the fuck up. That got their attention right away.
“Now. We will be calm and speak in our inside voices. If not, then you can leave. This is my family and our hotel room. If you want to be assholes and scream, then you can do that at your own home. Not here.” Mr. Sanders stood up and said that she’d not talk to him that way. “Yes, I will. You’ll find that I am not a person that you want to mess with, under any circumstances, and if you try, you’ll see the back of our door more often than the other side. I do not suffer fools, and if you want to be one, then I guess that is going to suck for you.”
“David, are you going to let this...this woman talk to us this way? We’re your parents, for Christ’s sake.” David stood up and took her hand. Heather waited. This was going to be the point where his parents would either run all over them or not. “I will not allow this. Not so long as I have breath in my body will I allow someone to talk to me that way.”
Tholan: Mystic Protectors: An Angelic Paranormal Erotica Page 16
